With train travel steadily gaining more and more steam as one the modes of transport of choice for luxury travellers — as well as those who just want to try something a little bit out of the norm when they go on holiday — adventure tour operator, On The Go Tours, has analysed 10 of the most popular sleeper trains around the world, taking a look at the cost per mile and distance covered to reveal the best value journey.
On the Go Tours marketing director, Anthony Harrison, said: “Travelling by train is a truly unique experience, falling asleep in one country and waking up in another with spectacular views along the way. However, each traveller has a different idea of what they want their journey to be, some are looking purely for value and low cost to get from A to B, whereas others are looking for a more glamorous and exclusive experience.
It’s great to see that across the globe there is a huge range of both cost-effective and glamourous sleeper trains to suit the needs of everyone, from the opulent Deccan Odyssey to the more modest Sunrise Seto, there is the opportunity to travel in your preferred style all over the world.”
Top 10 best value sleeper trains around the world:
| Rank | Train and Route | GBP/p cost per mile |
| 1 | Trans Siberian Express
Moscow – Vladivostok |
0.021 |
| 2 | Sri Lanka Railway
Ella – Kandy |
0.045 |
| 3 | The Red Arrow
Moscow – St. Petersburg |
0.117 |
| 4 | The Bergen Railway
Oslo – Bergen |
0.363 |
| 5 | The Caledonian Sleeper
London Euston – Inverness |
0.542 |
| 6 | The Sunrise Seto
Tokyo – Takamatsu |
0.890 |
| 7 | The Blue Train
Pretoria – Cape Town |
1.467 |
| 8 | Deccan Odyssey
Mumbai – Mumbai (via Vadodara – Palitana – Sasan Gir & Somnath – Little Rann of Kutch – Modhera & Patan – Nashik) |
2.814 |
| 9 | Belmond Andean Explorer
Cusco – Arequipa |
5.132 |
| 10 | Maharajas Express (Indian Panorama)
Delhi – Delhi (via Jaipur – Ranthambore and Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Orchha and Khajuraho – Varanasi) |
5.796 |
If you’re looking for a sleeper train that won’t break the bank when getting from A to B, the best value route is the Trans Siberian Express (main image), which takes you from Moscow to Vladivostok. This 6,152 mile long trip across Russia costs just GBP 131 (USD 164.02 )altogether for a single occupancy ticket, making it the best value for money on the list.
Another sleeper train which hosts spectacular views at a very reasonable price is the Sri Lanka Railway from Ella to Kandy – which is a grand total of 85 miles. This 6-hour journey will only cost a total of GBP3.80 and the train route is top of most travellers’ lists when they visit Sri Lanka, as it is both a beautiful and affordable way to see the country.
If a taste of luxury and class is what you’re looking for, The Maharajas Express (Indian Panorama) is the sleeper train for you. The Maharajas Express (above), bestowed the World’s Leading Luxury Train award at the World Travel Awards for seven consecutive years from 2012 to 2018, is a journey like no other. However, this bucket list experience comes at a cost. This seven day (168-hours) trip will set you back GBP 8,305 in total, but with deluxe cabins, restaurants, bars and world-class service, you can see why some people would invest in this ultimate form of travel.
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